The car lurched forward the moment Ling Xuan stepped on the gas.
"Wait…!" Laurel's breath got in her throat, as she saw her life flash in her eyes even when she was not in control.
The engine roared as the car shot out of the parking lot, and the tires screeched sharply against the road. The sudden force pressed Laurel's body back in the seat.
"This thing is loud," Ling Xuan remarked flatly. "And very sensitive."
"That's because you are stepping on it too hard!" Laurel snapped. "Slow down!"
Ling Xuan ignored her, her brows creased as if the car was a great beast she must tame.
The speed accelerated, and the buildings on the side blurred together. Ling Xuan's grip on the steering wheel was firm, almost rigid, as if she were holding reins instead of a car wheel.
She quickly approached a sharp turn, she had watched Laurel when she was driving. She narrowed her eyes as she suddenly turned the wheels without using the turn signal.
The car swerved violently, the tires screeching loudly as it left smoke in its wake. Laurel's stomach dropped as the tires skidded slightly, the back of the car fishtailing before barely straightening again.
A loud horn blared behind them, and many cars halted abruptly at her sudden turn.
"Ling Xuan! You are going to kill us!" Laurel yelled as all she could feel was fear, imagine dying after just having your second chance.
"So dramatic," Ling Xuan scoffed. "It stayed on the road, didn't it?"
Another car sped past them, the driver shouting something unintelligible through the window.
Ling Xuan frowned. "These people are reckless."
"You're the reckless one!" Laurel shouted.
Ling Xuan pressed the brake suddenly. The car jolted to a harsh stop, forcing her head forward before the seatbelt yanked her back. Ling Xuan's chest tightened, her hands trembling slightly.
"…This body is too fragile." Ling Xuan muttered with a frown.
The car behind them swerved around angrily, yelling at Ling Xuan as they passed them.
Ling Xuan eased her foot off the pedal this time. The car moved forward again, but this time it was slower.
"I understand it now," Ling Xuan said after a moment. "It doesn't need too much force." She said as if she were taking a mental note.
"Why do the people look so angry? And what are they saying? They are looking at me as if I stole their horses." Ling Xuan asked coldly, staring daggers at one of the passing cars, the driver got so close, looking very angry as he said words Ling Xuan could not hear.
"You are driving with no regard for the traffic rules. They are angry because you almost caused an accident." Laurel muttered as if exhausted.
At the red light, she slowed down but didn't stop completely. The car jerked forward inch by inch.
"Red means stop!" Laurel warned.
"Stop yelling at me, or I might do something you will regret." Ling Xuan warned sternly.
Laurel pressed her lips together, deciding it was better not to argue.
When the light turned green, Ling Xuan accelerated immediately, leaving the cars behind them scrambling to move.
By the time they reached the mansion gates, Laurel felt drained.
Ling Xuan finally slowed down, parking the car with a sharp turn of the wheel. The engine went silent.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
"You nearly killed us, I even lost count," Laurel said, angry.
Ling Xuan cracked her neck, unbothered. "But we're home."
Laurel made a mental note not to let Ling Xuan touch the car again.
"Wait a minute… this time I'm aware of what is happening?" Laurel sounded puzzled.
"Obviously." Ling Xuan hummed as she opened the car and stepped out. She paused when she felt a pair of eyes staring intensely at her.
She turned around only to find Alexander Wayne, standing close to a black car. He appeared to be coming from work.
Ling Xuan frowned, and without sparing him another glance, she turned around to head inside the mansion.
Alexander creased his brows at her strange gesture. The Laurel she knew wouldn't miss any chance to talk to him or stay close to him. Why does she look different today? And why wouldn't she say hi?
"Laurel." He called out, unable to keep his curiosity at bay.
Ling Xuan continued walking.
"Won't you hear what he has to say? He might suspect something is wrong." Laurel said meekly.
"I don't care, if I stop to listen to him, I might end up punching his face. Except you want me to." Ling Xuan replied sternly.
Laurel remained quiet. Deep down she wanted to know what made him think she drugged him or wanted to sleep with him. As far as she was concerned, she was the one who was assaulted, she only agreed to the marriage because of his grandparents and of course her sister.
Knowing now, there would be no love bond between them, and given the fact that he betrayed her. "Punch him for me." Laurel finally said.
Hearing her words, a small smile curved on Ling Xuan's lips. She stopped in her tracks, turning around to face Alexander who was already behind her.
"What?" Ling Xuan asked coldly.
"Didn't you see me?" Alexander asked, his voice calm and elegant.
"I did, so what?"
Alexander was taken aback by her sudden boldness. And at her question, he didn't know exactly what to say, it was not like he had something specific to say.
"Where are you coming from?" He said, glancing at the medicinal bag in her hand.
"You don't have the right to ask me." Ling Xuan's gaze narrowed at him.
The secretary, who was behind Alexander, was beyond stunned. Was this the same Laurel Wayne he knew?
"Of course I do. Are you seeing someone behind my back?" Alexander suddenly felt a burst of anger in his chest.
Ling Xuan turned to leave, clearly uninterested in talking with him.
Alexander suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her back. "I'm asking you a quest…"
Before he could finish his words, everything went pitch black for a second, then the pain registered in his brain.
The sound of her fist connecting to his face echoed through the air, followed by his groan.